The three adventurers will be leaving New Delhi on March 27, 2018 by flight to Kathmandu for their Everest Mission. They will start the trek from Jiri, which is along the route taken by Ms Bachendri Pal during her Mount Everest Expedition in 1984. This will further help the climbers to build on their mental and physical fitness.

Speaking to Fab Info Magazine about the expedition, Ms Bachendri Pal, Chief, Adventure Programme, Tata Steel said, “Tata Steel has always believed in empowering individuals to stand up to the challenges in their lives and scale new heights. Mt. Everest represents the epitome of challenge that tests the abilities of human endeavor, leadership, strengths, and weaknesses. The skills and expertise learned for an expedition to scale Mt. Everest helps the climbers to become leaders in their spheres of life and in contributing significantly to the community and the organizations they work for.” She further added, “We wish the very best to our three mountaineers for their conquest of Mt. Everest.”

The two girls and the instructor have been through rigorous training programme by TSAF. The trio has been trained to navigate extreme climatic conditions and to carry heavy load up and down the mountain slopes, and sleep in tents like they will be doing on Mt Everest.

For the past one year, the Mountaineers have been provided the right exposure and opportunity to participate in various expeditions to improve their mountaineering skills and stamina, thereby preparing them for Mt Everest.

The details of the three climbers on Mission Everest are as follows:

a) Swarnalata Dalai, a 20-year old tribal girl from Odisha known for her mountaineering skills and excellent performance in her journey of mountaineering. In 2017, Ms Dalai had participated in Mt. Rudugaira Expedition under the Biju Patnaik Himalayan Expedition. She also participated in a few other expeditions like the Roopkund Trek in Garhwal, one of the toughest treks and the Indian Women’s Gokyo – Everest Grand Circle Expedition, which paved her way for selection to the Mt. Everest Expedition 2018. She is being supported by TSAF and Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Odisha.

b) Poonam Rana, a 21-year gritty lady from Uttarakhand who has completed her basic and advance mountaineering courses and trekked to Everest Base Camp in April 2017. She has been working with TSAF as camp in-charge.

c) Sandeep Toliya has been working with TSAF for more than 10 years as a Senior Instructor. He has done basic and advance mountaineering courses, Method of Instruction, Outdoor Educator Semester at National Outdoor Leadership Course, USA, Trip Leader Course at NOLS, Ranikhet. He has climbed multiple peaks in Himalayas that include Mt Bhagirathi 2, Mt. Rudugaira, Mt Kanamo, Stok Kangri, and Karakoram Pass and trekked to Everest base camp. He is also one of the Instructors in TSAFs outdoor leadership programmes for corporates and B schools.